Posted on 06/09/2016 7:52:53 AM PDT by NKP_Vet
It's "hard to say" whether John Kasich will support Donald Trump, the Ohio governor said Thursday, adding that it's "absolutely" possible he could go to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland next month and not endorse the billionaire businessman. "Hard to say," the swing-state governor said of whether he will back the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. "If you look at Twitter, they have this thing called 'trending.' It's trending poorly."
Kasich stressed that his message is vastly different than Trump's. "We're like two companies. You know, we have a different vision, a different value system and a different objective," he recalled telling the real estate mogul during an interview conducted Wednesday but broadcast Thursday with Fox News' Bill Hemmer. "So it's pretty hard to put that together. But the divisiveness, the division, the name-calling, it just doesn't go down well with me." Kasich said he's unsure whether he'll have any additional conversations with Trump, suggesting that it's on him to initiate that dialogue. But Trump's recent attacks on an American federal judge presiding over class-action lawsuits against Trump University are "terrible," he said. Trump questioned whether U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel could be impartial, given his Mexican heritage and Trump's pledge to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. "This latest thing about this judge, it's terrible. It's just terrible," said Kasich, who has called on Trump to apologize. "Look, I think the country needs a leader who can unify. A country needs a leader who can inspire confidence in everyone, to make everybody feel like they're special. And then when you look at the entitlement stuff -- 'We don't have to deal with entitlements' -- are you kidding me? Of course we have to deal with entitlements. We have to modernize them." Kasich, whose lone win in the Republican primary was his home state of Ohio, could have outsize impact in the crucial swing state that Barack Obama carried in 2008 and 2012. But he put the onus on Trump to win it in November. "Look, the fact of the matter is that the qualities we need in a leader is very important to me," Kasich said. "This is not a game for me. Look, I can't go for dividing, name-calling or somebody that doesn't really represent conservative principles." Kasich said the U.S. now more than ever before needs to be unified, insisting that partisans should stop fighting and realize that they're Americans before Republicans or Democrats. "I'm not gonna endorse Hillary Clinton, that's for sure, but it's not that simple," he said. "It's not simple. I said from the beginning that if somebody came into Ohio and they were a divider that they couldn't win the state. It's not on me as to how Donald Trump does in Ohio. It's on him. It's on him how he does in the country." "And, you know, if you're going to insult Hispanics, if you're going to turn off minorities, if you're going to, you know, have reckless suggestions on foreign policy, that's not good," he continued. "Why would I feel compelled to support somebody whose positions I kinda fundamentally disagree with?" Kasich argued that while he's not yet sold, he's giving Trump a chance, insisting that he has time to change but pointing to the spat with Curiel as a reason he's not on board with Trump. "Here's a guy born in Indiana and this guy says that he's biased or if he was a Muslim he's biased," Kasich said of Trump. "I mean, that's not good stuff, Bill." It would take a "dramatic change" for a Trump endorsement to come, he said, explaining that to earn his support it takes a unifier with conservative principles to shrink the size and scope of the federal government. "Somebody that gives everybody a sense that there's an opportunity for them in America, not somebody who divides, puts down, scapegoats or anything else -- or name-calls," Kasich said. "Has to be a dramatic change." Kasich said he knows what the U.S. needs in a leader -- or rather, what it doesn't, condemning the type of candidate who is divisive and insults people. "I just wish that there was a change, but it doesn't look like there's been any chance," he said. "It looks like it's gotten worse." The Ohio governor also laughed when asked about there being any chance that he would be Trump's running mate. "There was never a chance of that," he chuckled. "Never. Not even a consideration. We're too different."
This is why I think Trump is being extra nice to many of these Republican Quislings. He knows it will be easier to govern with Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Once he has that, he knows he can publicly shame them into supporting his agenda. It will be harder for him to accomplish what he wants with Dems in charge of one or more houses, although I imagine he has a back up plan in case that happens.
So, expect him to be nice and cordial with the traitors in his own party (nicer than they deserve) up through the election. Once he’s in power, I think we’ll see that change. He knows how to leverage spineless politicians of his own party into supporting his agenda. Once they’re in office I think he’ll take the gloves off when dealing with obstructionists like Ryan, McConnell, et al.
Paul Ryan is even worse..clearly a democrat..no bigger weasel in congress..it helps Trump that Ryan is going on the Sunday show this weekend to call Trump a racist. I just hope the people of Ohio wake up to this clown
I guess these guys need kicking in the gonads some more.
I agree. I’d like to see Trump take on Ryan publicly - possibly endorse his primary opponent, Nehlan. Most of the rest he can deal with once in office. But taking on Ryan would also be a good example for other RINO’s to take notice of.
Was that before, or after, he signed to bill to legalize pot in Ohio?
Can you explain yourself ,, I’m not sure what your point is in your responce to my post .
Time for a little HARDBALL, boys and girls.
MOVE THAT CONVENTION out of Ohio. Palm Beach, anyone?
Paragraphs next time, please!
This is a Wall of Sound Phil Spector would have been proud of.
Yup, and there are a lot of clueless FReepers yammering for this open borders stooge to be Trump’s VP.
Trump should tell Kasich he won’t be attending a convention held in Cleveland, or anywhere else in Ohio.
Regardless of your take on Trump, get on the train or we might just get commie Hillary for eight more years of Obama. You want Venezuela? You want no jobs for your kids? You want your kids to get killed by some 8 time felon illegal? You want more terrorism? More activist SCOTUS commies? You could write a list pages long! C'mon people! Geez. .
But I thought at the first debate last August that he pledged that he would support the Republican candidate no matter who!
I have trouble wrapping my mind around Ohio and Pennsylvania - lots of fraud in the largest cities, but enough of the rest seem to vote stupid for what you might expect.
Time for Kasich to get the Zot!
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